Americans Value Trade Colleges Over Ivies
Sara Weissman
December 18, 2024
A new survey finds that while most likely voters question higher ed’s price, they view some types of institutions more favorably than others.
Most American voters view technical and community colleges as more valuable than the Ivy League, according to a recent survey.
The survey of 1,216 U.S. likely voters was fielded in early December, and the results were released Wednesday by Data for Progress, a progressive think tank, polling firm and advocacy group. The survey found that Americans were split over whether higher ed is worth the cost but generally appreciate some types of institutions more than others.
While 48 percent of respondents agreed that college is worth the price tag, 45 percent disagreed, and 7 percent said they didn’t know. Regardless of political affiliation, most voters believe higher ed is too expensive, including 87 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of Republicans and 80 percent of Independents and third-party voters. Slightly smaller shares of Republicans and Independents or third-party voters believe college’s benefits outweigh the costs—44 percent and 39 percent, respectively—compared to 57 percent of Democrats.
